What's in the OA-9 Cygnus?

Resupply mission OA-9 will carry a mix of cargo weighing 3,350 Kg (7,385 lbs.) plus an array of Cube SATS. This version of the Cygnus is the Enhanced Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) with an empty weight of 3,375 Kg, standing 639 cm tall (20 ft) and controlled with 32 thrusters. After delivering supplies it will be reloaded with approximately 3,200 Kg of disposal cargo before departing the ISS. The typical resupply mission carries crew provisions, food, scientific experiments, EVA supplies and vehicle hardware. So what's in the OA-9 Cygnus?

A United Launch Alliance Atlas-V rocket lifted the GOES-S weather-tracking satellite to orbit. The launch occurred at the top of the launch window, 5:02 PM on March 1, 2018. The weather was perfect - the 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron announced a 0% probability of violating weather constraints. The rocket was flying with the extra-large fairing that is five meters in diameter instead of the usual four. Because of the mass of the satellite, four external solid rocket boosters were attached to the Atlas V to provide additional lift. Those extra engines provided a beautiful white trail of smoke as the rocket ascended.

Dr. George Ricker from Massachusetts Institute of Technology hosted a media day today for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The principal investigator explained TESS's role between the Kepler Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.

A large crowd convened at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Information Center on January 25, 2018 for the annual NASA Day of Remembrance. A focus this year was on four astronauts who perished in events other than Apollo One, Challenger, and Columbia. Family members of Charles A. Bassett II, Elliot M. See Jr., Clifton C. Williams, and Michael J. Adams shared memories of each astronaut. Also in attendance, Tal Ramon, son of Columbia crew member Ilan Ramon shared two original compositions and spoke about his father.